Past needs digging up before building homes for the future

The plans to build more than 800 homes at Eastfield, near Scarborough, caused uproar in the 1990s because the community was already North Yorkshire's biggest housing estate and lacking in basic amenities, including public toilets.

Public protest died down, however, as it became clear the scheme could also deliver a lot of amenities for residents and when funding became available for millions in roadbuilding the proposal was revived.

A plan for the area was drawn up following consultations with residents to develop the Community Action Plan for Eastfield – the largest community planning exercise ever carried out in North Yorkshire, involving more than 1,000 residents.

But there was still the potential hurdle the land could contain valuable archaeology and if the finds were too important the whole scheme – which now also includes the wider development of Eastfield – might have to go back to the drawing board.

The whole site of Middle Deepdale comprises 170 acres of agricultural land which is allocated for housing development in Scarborough Local Plan and has been since 1999.

Much of the land is owned by the council and forms part of High Eastfield Farm. The rest is in the hands of a private company called Kebbell Developments Ltd. Both parcels of land are separated by a grassy valley known as Deepdale.

Head of legal and support services Ian Anderson said when the plan for the area was drawn up initial archaeological investigations were already underway.

"They had the potential to impact upon the viability of the project and prior to submitting the planning application the outcome of those investigations would be reported back to Cabinet," he added.

Cabinet will receive the update tomorrow but all the signs are the scheme will able to go ahead – at the price of a 1m dig.

Mr Anderson explained: "Archaeological trenching works and excavation have been completed. The artefacts uncovered are currently being analysed and the final report of the findings is currently being compiled,

"However there are strong indications that the findings are largely as anticipated within the initial survey works."

The parcel of land owned by Kebbells contained limited geological features but the section of the site owned by Scarborough Council has yielded a number of archaeological and geological features which are of regional significance.

Mr Anderson continued: "In total some 16 acres of land within the site contain archaeology of regional significance. This does not preclude development of the site, however, mitigation in the form of full excavation of the 16-acre area and associated cataloguing and storage of the artefacts retrieved will be required prior to any development.

"The estimated cost of undertaking this mitigation is in the region of 1m."

"Based on these indications the viability of the site has been reviewed.

"That reassessment supports continuation with progressing the development. However, it is possible the council may have to allow a discount against the land value a landowner would expect to receive, at least in the 16-acre area affected by the additional 1m works," Mr Anderson said.

But the overall plan remains unchanged and councillors will tomorrow be asked to confirm the outline scheme for Middle Deepdale and to submit a planning application.

The development is regarded as vital to Scarborough because many of the new homes are for people working on the business park.